New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-07-29
4 Oo1oRED REPUBLICANS FATE.

No coored Republican has any rights that
ought to be respected by any white man.
This is a cardinal article Of pol tlcal faith In
the Solid South: and the Administration has
fully subscribed to it in theory and pract &C.
The case of Merriman Howard illustrates the
Injustice and partsanship of that Admins
tration in its dealings with the coored race
at the South as well as the hollowness and
falsity of its Civil Service reform pretences.
Merriman Howard is a colored man who has
played a prominent and honorable part IN
Mississippi politics He was Sheriff Of Jelter-
son County for three terms, and at another
time was member of the L|gSlatr O. Lie
long Democ ats Of that State have united
in commencing him as man possessing the
respect and confidence OF the community,
both white and black Judge Thomas B.
Berry, of the Chancery Court ut L TT Glib
son. describes him as good. capable ana
honest official, against whom no charSe oil
corruption or IN sbehavior was ever made
Inv any white man in Jefferson County.
H. Truly. Editor of The Fayette Chron-
iclc5 and chairman of the Democratic In
ccutiyc Committee in Mississippi IN 1875
relates a thrilling story of Sheriff Howards
courage during the Reconstruction pcriou.
Over three hundred enraged groes rushed
from the courthouse. and swarmng about
Mr.. Truly threatened 10 murder HIM. HOWARD
WAS the first man to spring to the rescue
and bravely he held his ground against The
mob until the m litary forces came up. oh
another occasion he saved the life OF white
man named Hunt by protecting him from
assault and getting him away from n large
mob of nfuriated blacks The following
extract from a letter written by Claude I'm
tard Natchcz lawyer, and ENDORSED by Dr'
T III. l.. Smith, another prominent Demo
crat. fully sets forth Towards relations 10
tho two races during the Reconstruction periou :
I,o nto,rard wa. Sheriff and hal more influence
With his race than any man in the county, and can
cLeerflly and truthfully say that influence was en-
erted for the benefit OF all, while AMI coio'ou NJ
was ambitions and souiht Office through 'hc 'o"T
81 his race but always counseiled peace ana "hen
his race was in power in the county peace ana q"'o
visited between the races. And for this goon III
nuence consider that the people OF Jefferson County
owe him a deb Of gratitude He has never. 10 my
knowledge stirred up strife, but on the contrary
the opposite He partisan 20 Tar as eheiuhg
himself TO keep his party in power but noons wa"
done by him TO this end but adving his race 10 VOC
70. his party know Of several Instances during
hose troublous times whom, had IL not been Tor M
influence, blood woull have ben shed. ana IL wa
tnly through his influence that such calamity was
aveItcd.
This honest and cap1ble colored man. for
whose integrity great number OF MISSISSIPPI
Democrats arc willing TO vouch, ana whose
political influence in trying times has been
excrted to allay strife between the whites
and blacks. was removed from Office lew
months ago because he was colored re
publican. He had been an assistant mes
senper in the Treasury Department at Wish
neton for several years ald had proved HIM
self to be a faithful, honest and intelligent
employe of the Government. lie was r-
moved on the strength Of the following letter
written by a Democratic Congressman no
torious for his connection with election
frauds and bulldozng in Mississippi:
HOUSE, OF REPRESENTATIVES,
WAsnIseToS D. C., February %, 1856
Euoryg HIGGfNs ESQ.,, Appointment Oiilco
SIR: beg leave respectfully to state that Acrfman
Howard of jefferson County, Miss, who Is now on the
roll of employees In tho Treasury department. was
appointed under a former Administration through par
t.san influence and In consideration VI partisan WORK
In stirring up strife and appealing 10 the mos,
vicious prejudlcos 10 accomplish his purposes. ask
that he DO discharged. Yours respectfully
;signcd) T.. BARKsDALE,
Rep. With Miss. Dist.
request from the chief conspirat0r In
Mississippi against the ballot and equal rights
was sufficient. Higgins at once proceeded
to purge the s ryice of an offensive partisan
and a disturbcr of the peace between whites
and blacks. In spite OF all the handsome
testimonials received from leading Demo